HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                     HB 1602

Brief Description:  Requiring that information provided by governmental entities on household hazardous waste or consumer product substitutes be competent and reliable.

Sponsors:  Representatives  Schoesler, Huff, Lisk and Chandler

                  Hearing:  February 12, 1997

BACKGROUND:

The Legislature finds hazardous substances are a threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and that individuals have an inherent right to know the risks they face so that they may take informed action concerning their employment and living conditions.  The Legislature has determined the establishment of a comprehensive program for the disclosure of information about hazardous substances in the workplace and the community is in the public interest, and requires the Department of Labor and Industries to produce educational brochures and public service announcements to the public detailing information about hazardous substances.

Within the Department of Labor and Industries there is established a worker and community right to know fund, monies from which may be spent by the Department of Ecology to inform the public about hazardous substances.

The Hazardous Substance Information and Education Office of the Department of Ecology is responsible for informing and educating the public about hazardous substances.  The responsibilities of the office include:

1.  Easing access to information on hazardous substances in a community.

2.  Educating the public on the proper use, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances.

3.  Informing and educating the public about the safe handling and disposal of hazardous household substances.

The office publishes public service announcements, pamphlets, brochures, flyers, and other publications to inform the public about the safe handling, use, and disposal of hazardous household substances.

SUMMARY OF BILL:

Prohibits agencies of state and local governments from providing information on household hazardous substances, or consumer product substitutes unless the information is Acompetent and reliable.@  Competent and reliable information means information that is verifiable or provable by a test, analysis, research, study, or other methods that provide accurate and reliable results.

Information that recommends the use of a consumer product substitute considered by the state to have the potential to be accidentally ingested or to pose other hazards to the safety or health of humans is not competent and reliable information.

Agencies of state and local governments may not recommend the use of a substance for pesticidal purposes if the substance is not registered for use as a pesticide by the state and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

RULES AUTHORITY:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule-making powers of an agency.

FISCAL NOTE:  Requested on February 11, 1997.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.